Epson C88 Technical Brief

Category
Ink cartridges
Type
Technical Brief

Epson C88 is a versatile printer designed for everyday use, offering high-quality printing for documents, photos, and creative projects. With its DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, it delivers sharp text, vibrant colors, and durable, water-resistant prints.

Epson C88 is a versatile printer designed for everyday use, offering high-quality printing for documents, photos, and creative projects. With its DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, it delivers sharp text, vibrant colors, and durable, water-resistant prints.

Epson Sales Training 10/07
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is currently featured in the Epson C88+ and C120 printers and the Epson CX4400/
CX7400/CX8400/CX9400Fax All-in-One printers. These products are designed for the consumer and SOHO (Small
Office/Home Office) customer who is looking for versatility, productivity, ease of use, image quality on plain and
photo paper, and durability on a variety of papers. The key advantages of this ink set are:
Laser-sharp print quality for everyday text documents on plain papers and outstanding photo printing on
glossy papers—without the need, hassle, or expense of swapping ink cartridges
Durable prints that are water, smudge, and fade-resistant
Convenience and flexibility
Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Ideal for Printing Everyday Documents
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink uses an exclusive Microencapsulation
technology where each pigment particle is encased in a resin. A unique
polymer pulls the particles apart so they are suspended in the solution
and never coagulate. The ink base then helps the DURABrite Ultra
pigment particles penetrate into the paper.
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers these everyday printing advantages:
1. Extra-sharp text and graphics on plain paper: Because
conventional dye-based ink acts much like a watercolor paint, its
molecules are absorbed into plain paper. The spreading of ink
into plain paper’s fibers is referred to as feathering.
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink pigment particles rest” near
the surface of the paper and are not absorbed into the fibers
like conventional dye inks. With the same size ink droplet,
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink produces a much smaller spot size
than dye-based ink, resulting in sharper output on plain paper.
Additionally, higher optical density produces darker blacks in
text and graphics.
2. Double-Sided prints without bleed-through: DURABrite Ultra pigment ink uses a special technology that
controls the penetration level of the ink and keeps the colorant near the surface. This produces double-sided
prints without bleed-through and also keeps plain papers from being over-saturated with ink.
3. Brighter colors: DURABrite Ultra pigment ink uses an innovative formulation of color inks, producing
brighter output on plain, matte, and glossy paper.
With DURABrite Ultra pigment ink,
customers can achieve outstanding
output on plain paper when printing
greeting cards, reports, labels, web
pages, resumes, menus, and more.
With added improvements for
printing on glossy papers, the
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is
ideal for customers who want one
printer to produce the highest quality
everyday documents on plain paper,
plus occasional photos.
With the same size ink droplet,
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has
a smaller spread into plain paper’s
fibers than dye-based ink
Conventional Dye Ink Text
DURABrite Ultra Ink Text
Double-sided
prints without
bleed-through
Brighter colors on
plain paper
Extra-sharp text
Sharper graphics
DURABrite Ultra everyday printing advantages:
Epson DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink Technical Brief Page 2
Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Durable Output
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers smudge-, fade-, and water-resistance on all supported papers, including
plain paper.
1. Smudge-Resistant Prints: Many
competitor’s dye-based inks are not
smudge-resistant immediately after
printing, and most prints need several
minutes of drying time before they can be
touched.
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, like all
Epson inks, uses a quick drying formula.
Epson prints can be touched without fear
of causing smudges, right after printing
and beyond. Customers can handle prints
without fear of damaging them.
2. Fade-Resistant Prints: DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has fade-
resistant properties that exceed those of photo lab prints and wont
fade as quickly as many competitor’s prints—even on plain paper.
With DURABrite Ultra, cherished photos will last for generations.
In fact, DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has a fade resistance rating up
to 105 years as rated by Wilhelm Imaging Research, Inc, a leading
authority on print permanence*.
*
Lightfastness rating based on accelerated testing of prints on specialty media,
displayed indoors and under glass. Actual print stability will vary according to
image, display conditions, light intensity, humidity, and atmospheric conditions.
Epson does not guarantee longevity of prints. For maximum print life, display all
prints under glass or UV filter or lamination, or properly store them. For full details
on test reports, visit http://www.wilhelm-research.com.
3. Water-Resistant Prints: Conventional dye-based inks are molecules dissolved in water which are then
absorbed into plain paper. If the paper were to get wet, the dye molecules will again dissolve and move
from their original position, causing smearing. Pigment inks, such as the DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, are
comprised of pigment particles suspended in the ink, and once applied to paper, including plain paper, do
not dissolve if they get wet and do not smear.
The water-resistant properties of DURABrite Ultra pigment ink prevent accidental damage caused by
moisture and spills. Many competitive printers use a water-resistant pigment black, but dye-based color
inks. DURABrite Ultra pigment ink uses pigment-based black and color inks, and offers water-resistant
properties on all supported papers, including plain paper.
Conventional Dye-Based Ink
Conventional dye-based ink particles
are absorbed into the fibers of plain
paper and are soluble in water.
DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink particles
“rest” on the surface of plain paper and
are insoluble in water.
Competitor’s Pigment Black and Dye Color Ink
Only black is water-resistant
DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink
Superb waterfastness for black and color
Epson Print
The quick drying DURABrite
Ultra ink resisted smudging
under identical testing.
Competitor’s Dye-Based Print
The smudge across the boys
face was caused by swiping the
print one minute after printing.
Fade testing using accelerated
exposure to high levels of UV
light. Actual results may differ.
Competitor’s Dye-Based Print
Covered side Exposed side
Epson DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink Technical Brief Page 3
Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Outstanding Photos on Glossy Papers
Many consumers are looking for a printer that can produce great everyday text documents and photos. With the
new DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, customers get high quality glossy photos without compromising the text and
graphic printing quality on plain paper that DURABrite Ink has been known for. DURABrite Ultra pigment ink
offers these new advantages when printing photos on glossy papers:
1. Better glossiness: DURABrite Ultra pigment ink produces excellent output on Epson glossy photo papers:
Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy—This “best of
breed” glossy photo paper has a heavier, professional
weight with a smooth, high-gloss finish.
Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster—This paper with
Luster E surface finish produces vivid, lifelike images
that rival those of traditional silver halide prints, with
high saturation and high D-Max for true photographic
reproductions. It is compatible with the DURABrite
Ultra pigment ink when using the Premium Photo
Paper/Semigloss driver setting.
Premium Photo Paper Glossy— This high-gloss paper
makes prints look and feel like a traditional photograph.
Premium Photo Paper Semi-gloss—This media has the
look and feel of true photographic paper, and is ideal for
printing displays or scenic color images. The semigloss
finish delivers beautiful results.
Photo Paper Glossy—This glossy photo paper delivers a
smooth, glossy finish for everyday photos.
2. Reduced gloss differential: Gloss differential occurs when
the gloss of the paper is different from the gloss of the ink.
By using a new resin formulation, gloss differential with
the DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is reduced and the color
gamut is improved.
3. Reduced metamerism: Metamerism is an effect where
colors appear to be different under dissimilar lighting
conditions (such as natural light and fluorescent light).
With the new ink formulation, metamerism is reduced.
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has the flexibility to produce
high quality glossy photos as well as superb photos on matte
papers—without the need, hassle, or expense of swapping
ink cartridges. Epson printers and All-in-One printers with
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink support BorderFree
®
printing, so
customers can print borderless, frame-ready photos right out of
the printer, without trimming or perforations.
The ink set is compatible with the following Epson papers:
Excellent gloss
level
Reduced
metamerism
More vibrant
colors
More glossy
paper choices
DURABrite Ultra Glossy Paper Benefits:
Plain and Matte Surface Papers Glossy Surface Papers Specialty Papers
Ultra Premium Presentation Paper
Matte
Premium Presentation Paper Matte
Premium Presentation Paper
Double-Sided Matte
Presentation Paper Matte
• Bright White Paper
• Other plain paper
Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy
• Ultra Premium Photo Paper Luster
Premium Photo Paper Glossy
Premium Photo Paper Semi-gloss
Photo Paper Glossy
• Iron-on Cool Peel Transfer Paper
Transparency Film
• Photo Quality Self-Adhesive Sheets
• Photo Quality Ink Jet Cards
• PremierArt™ Matte Scrapbook
Photo Paper for Epson
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is
compatible with many glossy photo
papers, plus still supports matte and
plain papers
Epson DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink Technical Brief Page 4
Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Convenient and Flexible
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink was designed for the consumer and small office/home office (SOHO) customer.
This customer generally prints text documents, web pages, homework/reports, labels, and maybe craft projects,
yet also may own a digital camera and wants to print high quality photos.
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers convenience to this customer by offering:
Convenient individual ink cartridges*—With individual ink
cartridges, customers can take control of ink usage, replacing only
the ink that’s needed.
Excellent output on plain papers—Because you dont have to use
specialty papers to obtain the best print quality for text documents,
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers added convenience.
New, innovative technology (available for Windows users on the
C120/CX7400/CX8400/CX9400Fax models) extends black ink
printing—If a customer is running low on black ink, he now has the
option to continue printing black text using the color inks—a life-
saver when stores are closed!
New, easier to identify packaging—All models (except for the C88+)
feature inks with new packaging making it easier for customers to
purchase replacement inks—all a customer needs to remember is
the two-digit ink number.
New ink configurations—New 88 series cartridges are designed for moderate use and feature an
affordable cartridge price (for the CX4400/CX7400). The 69 series cartridges are ideal for most users
(C120-Color Only/CX7400/CX8400/CX9400Fax). The 68 ink is only available in a dual-pack black and is
designed for heavy document printing. Each 68 black cartridge gives customers about 50% more prints
than a standard 69 cartridge (C120/CX8400/CX9400Fax only).
See the Ink Jet Printer Reference Material for more information on ink cartridge compatibility.
Advantages of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink—Positioning vs. Other Epson Ink Sets
Epson continually innovates ink
solutions tailored to the needs of
specific users instead of offering a
one-size-fits-all ink solution. Whether
the customer is most interested in the
everyday printing of documents and
the occasional photo, is an amateur
photographer looking to primarily
print photos with stellar image quality
and durability, or is a professional
photographer staking his reputation
on breathtaking large format prints,
Epson has the right ink for the job.
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is a
breakthrough ink that delivers all-
purpose versatility, great for everyday
text documents, brochures, menus,
hand outs, and photos. The graphic at
right shows how DURABrite Ultra fits
in with the other Epson ink solutions.
For complete details on how DURABrite Ultra pigment ink compares to other Epson ink technologies, refer to the Epson
Ink Solutions document.
General Purpose
Chief Memory Officer
®
Photo Enthusiast
Advanced
Amateur
Pro
Fine
Art
Increasing Brand Strength
Epson DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink Technical Brief Page 5
Comparison of DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink and Conventional Dye-Based Ink
DURABrite Ultra is the only consumer-class 4-color ink set that uses all pigment-based ink; some competitive
printers use pigment-based black with dye-based color, and others use all dye-based ink. The key advantage of
Epson DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is its ability to produce the highest quality text and photos, offering color
qualities similar to dye-based ink with the durability qualities of pigment ink. The key differences between
conventional dye ink and DURABrite Ultra pigment ink are:
Key Differences Conventional Dye Ink DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink
Characteristics
Formed from color-forming, water-
soluble molecules
Comprised of insoluble pigment particles
Color Gamut
Best Best on plain and matte papers; Excellent
on glossy photo papers
Coloring is high because ink dyes the fiber
of the paper. Light reflects evenly off the
surface.
Ink remains near the paper’s surface and
the new resin formulation reduces gloss
differential while improving the color
gamut on glossy papers.
Fade-resistance
Fair to Good
The dye inks are dependent on special
paper to resist fading.
.
Excellent
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink has fade
resistance beyond photo lab prints—up to
105 years (see page 2)
Water-Resistance
Good
Inks are water-resistant on many glossy
photo papers but not on matte papers.
Excellent
Inks are water-resistant on all supported
media, including plain paper.
Plain Paper Printing
Good
Feathering occurs as ink is absorbed into
the plain paper fibers.
Excellent
Sharp, clear text and graphics without
bleeding.
Media Selection
Best
Wide media compatibility: Plain, Matte,
RC (Resin Coated) Photo and High Gloss
papers, and specialty media (including
self-adhesive paper and iron-on transfers)
Excellent
Wide media selection: Plain, matte, RC
(Resin Coated) Photo papers and specialty
media (including self-adhesive paper and
iron-on transfers)
Epson DURABrite Ultra Pigment Ink Technical Brief Page 6
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink provides the best combination of features to the consumer/SOHO customer:
Versatility and flexibility (with the ability to print exceptional text documents and photos without the
need, hassle, or expense of swapping ink cartridges)
Image quality on plain and photo paper
Image durability (smudge, fade, and water-resistance)
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink offers:
Brilliant output on plain paper and glossy photo papers
Excellent output for everyday text documents, especially on plain paper
Smudge-, fade-, and water-resistance, even on plain paper
Convenient individual ink cartridges
Epson, Epson Stylus, Epson UltraChrome Hi-Gloss, and PictureMate are registered trademarks and Epson Exceed Your Vision, Claria, and Epson
UltraChrome K3 are trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. DURABrite, BorderFree, and Chief Memory Officer are registered trademarks of
Epson America, Inc. Other product names used herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Epson disclaims any and all rights in those marks. Specifications subject to change.
©2007 Epson America, Inc.
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is the ideal
solution for printing reports, web pages,
greeting cards, presentations, report covers,
resumes, menus and photos on glossy papers.
Summary
Visit www.DURABrite.com for the latest information on DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, testimonials, and more.
DURABrite Ultra pigment ink is currently featured on the following Epson stand-alone printers and All-in-One
printers:
CX9400Fax All-in-One
C88+ Printer
CX7400 All-in-One CX8400 All-in-One
C120 Printer
CX4400 All-in-One
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Epson C88 Technical Brief

Category
Ink cartridges
Type
Technical Brief

Epson C88 is a versatile printer designed for everyday use, offering high-quality printing for documents, photos, and creative projects. With its DURABrite Ultra pigment ink, it delivers sharp text, vibrant colors, and durable, water-resistant prints.

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